The next Victor Wembanyama? Fellow Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher declares for NBA Draft, with 6-foot-10 19-year-old projected to go first overall
For the second year in a row, a Frenchman could go No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft as projected top pick Zaccharie Risacher has filed his official paperwork with the league, according to a new report.
Risacher, 19, is a 6-foot-4 forward who plays for JL Bourg in the French Pro A League.
And now the design will be ready in about two months, he said ESPN on Monday that he was declared the event.
“It has always been my dream to get into the best league in the world,” Risacher said.
‘I have worked hard for this since I was a child. JL Bourg has given me an incredible opportunity to show what I can do. It was the perfect place to start my young career. I am very grateful to be able to play for this organization.”
Zaccharie Risacher could be the second Frenchman in a row to become number 1 in the overall rankings
Victor Wembanyama was selected by Spurs last year and dominated in his rookie season
This season, Risacher is averaging 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 39 percent from three.
Of course, Risacher’s entry into the draft comes fourteen months after French phenomenon Victor Wembanyama was selected by Spurs.
The freakishly talented 7-foot-4 center had a stellar rookie season, during which he averaged 21.4 points, a league-leading 3.6 blocks and earned a nomination for Defensive Player of the Year. He is also expected to be named Rookie of the Year.
If Risacher does indeed go No. 1, there’s a good chance he ends up with the Pistons or Wizards, who finished with the two worst records in the league and have an even 14 percent chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery.
Risacher is averaging 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for JL Bourg this year
The Trail Blazers (13.3 percent) and Hornets (13.2 percent) are not far behind, while Wembanyama’s Spurs have the fifth best odds at 10.5 percent.
In addition to Wembanyama, Risacher will join Frenchmen Bilal Coulibaly (last year’s No. 7), Rayan Rupert (No. 43 overall in 2023) and Sidy Cissoko (No. 44 overall) as recent draftees.
Another Frenchman, former Knicks draft pick Frederic Weis, made headlines when he slammed the Sixers’ Joel Embiid for spurning France in favor of Team USA ahead of the Paris Games.
Alexandre Sarr, another Frenchman standing at over two meters tall, is also expected to be among the top five.